This review is for the salon side of the business, relative to manicure/pedicure services provided by Melissa.
I purchased two offers via Groupon - one "deluxe" m/p with gel nails for me, a basic package for my hubby. He had to attend to a maintenance emergency at home at the time of our appointment, so couldn't come along. Just as well. After my experience, I don't want him to go. I'll eat the $19 I paid for that offer.
1. The facility and business practices
The trouble started before I even arrived. I called about a half hour before our appointments to let Melissa know it would be just me, not both of us. The place didn't open until the time of our appointments (11 a.m. on Sunday), but I wanted to leave a message so she could adjust her preparations. The answering machine didn't have a personalized greeting - it was still set on the default machine voice. Not sure if I got the right place, I hung up without leaving a message.
I arrived a few minutes early and waited in the parking lot. Shortly after 11, there was still no activity, no "open" light. I called again, this time leaving a message: I'm here, where are you? At about 5 after, a young woman drove up and entered with a key through the barber shop side. A couple minutes later, the OPEN light came on and the salon door was opened.
I went in, introduced myself, referencing the appointment and that it would just be me. She said ok, and said she needed a few minutes to get things set up. I asked if I could use the restroom. I was put-off by the fact that the bathroom hadn't been cleaned up from the business day before. The wastebasket was full of used paper towels, the fixtures and floor were not clean.
When I came out of the restroom, Melissa asked me to be patient while she gathered hot water from the barber shop side, that their water heater was broken. I asked how long that had been, and she said since the day before. (I think it would have been a courtesy to call me the day before to let me know they had a facility issue, and offer to reschedule.) Melissa returned from the barber shop area carrying a plastic wastebasket filled with warm water. Um, I have to hope it was a clean bin. I should have left at that point, but stuck with it. She filled the pedicure basin with that water.
There are two pedicure stations. On the unused one, there was a coffee cup placed upside down on the rim of the tub, as if it had been washed there. I don't know about health/safety laws much, but I don't think that would be an approved practice. Gross, at the very least.
2. Manicure/Pedicure services
Overall, the pedicure was unsatisfactory. Melissa didn't trim my nails at all, just did some light filing. Didn't get to the corners at all. She kept her tools in a cabinet and took them out as she needed them. I couldn't see if they came from a clean container, or if there was evidence of their having been sterilized. She seemed to be unsure about the process it self, doing one step, moving on, then going back. Everything seemed to be tentative. I asked the difference between a standard and the deluxe pedicure. She answered that it had to do with the massage. She went up to just above the ankle, very little foot/toe massage, and again, very tentative.
The manicure was also unsatisfactory. The cuticle trimming was ok, but execution of the gel nail application was poor.
I chose a gel color from her sample wheel, identifying it by the assigned number. She retrieved the bottle, opened it and it was clearly not the color I chose. She went back to her cabinet, looking for the color, looking for another bottle with that number, but wasn't successful. I asked for my second choice color. It was found without trouble. (This should be a no-brainer part of the business. Color/number coding polishes. Color inventory accurately presented.)
I noticed a clump of gel material at the tip of my nail, and asked her to smooth it out. She did, and as I watched, I saw that it was apparently the way she did it, but not consistently. All of the nails had a little more at the tip, making a little speed bump there. The polish had a little bit of a "frost" effect. The uneven application of the material is particularly evident with that feature. There were curves/swirls in the finish where it should have been even, smooth, and straight.
I won't be back. I am forfeiting the $19 I paid via Groupon for my hubby's m/p. read more